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Vice President Kamala Harris on Sunday put pressure on the Israeli government to significantly ramp up its humanitarian aid efforts to Gaza, describing the situation as a “humanitarian catastrophe.”

Speaking in Selma, Alabama, Harris described the dire conditions faced by the residents of Gaza, stating, “What we are seeing every day in Gaza is devastating. We have seen reports of families eating leaves or animal food. Women giving birth to malnourished babies with little or no medical care, and children dying from malnutrition and dehydration. The Israeli government must do more to significantly increase the flow of aid. No excuses.”

This push from the Vice President comes amidst escalating criticism from the Biden administration towards Israel’s management of the humanitarian situation in Gaza, particularly in the wake of an incident that resulted in the death of over 100 civilians trying to receive aid. Harris expressed her sorrow, saying, “As I have said many times, too many innocent Palestinians have been killed. Our hearts break for the victims of that horrific tragedy and for all the innocent people in Gaza who are suffering from what is clearly a humanitarian catastrophe. People in Gaza are starving. The conditions are inhumane. And our common humanity compels us to act.”

This comes as President Biden announced on Friday that the US would initiate airdrops of humanitarian aid into Gaza while continuing negotiations for a temporary cease-fire. Biden criticized the current level of aid allowed into the region, stating, “Innocent people got caught in a terrible war, unable to feed their families, and you saw the response when they tried to get aid. And we need to do more, and the United States will do more.”